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Sri Lankan Tamil cinema

Sri Lankan Tamil cinema is a small filmmaking industry based in Sri Lanka, which has made under 100 Tamil language films as of 2013.[1] it is separate from its Indian counterpart, the Tamil cinema of Kodambakkam in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, as many Sri Lankan Tamil actors work in Sri Lankan films or independent Tamil films overseas, although a few noted Tamil actors in India were born in Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan Tamil cinema's growth has largely been stalled due to the Sri Lankan Civil War.

Tamils contributed significantly to Sinhala cinema as well as Indian Tamil cinema. The earliest ever Tamil films were mostly destroyed or unrecovered during wartime. The first known Sinhalese film dubbed in Tamil was released on December 29, 1951.[1][2] The Sri Lankan Tamil film Samuthayam (transl. Society), an adaptation of C.N. Annadurai’s Velaikkari, was made in 16 mm and technicolor. It was shown in 1962 and 1963. Thottakkari (Plantation Woman), released on March 28, 1962, was the first Sri Lankan Tamil film in the standard 35 mm format. It included speeches by trade unionists S. Thondaman and Azeez and was directed by Krishnakumar, who also played the film's male lead.[1]

Government-instituted development and individual achievement (1971–1979); unprecedented surge in yearly admissions In 1971, a socialist government that sought to overcome the dominance of screen time in Sri Lanka by Tamil and Hindi films came to power in the country. Foreign film dominance had resulted in domestically produced films being relegated to 20% of the screen time while foreign films occupied 80% (60% Tamil, 10% Hindi, 10% English). The government that won power had promised to redress this imbalance. It established the State Film Corporation by Act No. 47 of 1971, charged with the promotion of national film and giving and making available a wide variety of films to the public.

The State Film Corporation (SFC) established a unique credit scheme for film production. Loans were given on the basis of a script evaluation, and those taking part with credit were given on the collateral of the negatives. This was at a time when bank lending was very conventional and such a 'collateral' was unheard of in the banking industry. The directors and main technicians had to have prior training to obtain loans via a system of registration. Prior to these measures, films produced domestically were transliterations of Tamil and Hindi films, to the extent that there was no credit for screenplay. The only credit was for dialogues, as the "screenplay" was a transliteration of the Hindi or Tamil original. The credit scheme ensured original screenwriting for the first time, and stories that were copies of Hindi and Tamil were not entitled to receive loans. Thus, a professional film production industry was established.

As a rebirth of Sri Lankan Tamil cinema, the comedy/thriller movie ‘'Komaali Kings’' was announced on January 23, 2016. The team says, "‘Komaali Kings’ is an attempt to rekindle and re-establish nostalgic memories of the hay days of Sri Lankan Tamil cinema."

The filmography of the Sri Lankan Tamil cinema is as follows.

Early films 1960s

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No Film title Meaning of title Film Director / Music Director Date released
1 Samuthayam Society Henry Chandrawansa 1962 (16-mm Technicolor Movie)
2 Thottakkari A lady from Plantation Krishnakumar March 28, 1962
3 Kadamayin Ellai Limits of Duty M.Vedanayagam 1966
4 Pasa Nila Beloved Moon Joe Dev Anand 1966 (16-mm Movie)
5 Taxi Driver Taxi Driver T.Sundukuli Somasegaran 1966
6 Nirmala Nirmala A.Ragunathan 1968

Films released in 1970s

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No Film title Meaning of title Film Director Date released Notes
7 Manjal Kungumam Turmeric and Kumkum Balan 1970
8 Vensangu White conch W.M.S.Thambo 1970
9 Kuththu vilakku Sacred Lamp W.S.Mahendran 1972
10 Meenava Penn Fisherfolk Lady Krishnakumar 1973
11 Pudhiya Kattru A New waves S.Ramanathan 1975
12 Komaligal The Clowns S.Ramanathan 1976
13 Ponmani Ponmani Dharmasena Patthiraja 1977
14 Kaathirupaen Unakaaha I will wait for you S.V.Chandran 1977
15 Naan Ungal Thozhan I'm Your friend S. V. Chandran 1978
16 Vadakkattru Cool Breeze Premnath Moraes 1977
17 Thendralum Puyalum Wind and Typhoon M.A.Kapoor 1978 First and only Tamil Cinemasope movie
18 Theivam Thantha Veedu God gave this House Wlfred silva 1978
19 Aemalikal Fools S.Ramanathan 1978
20 Anuragam Anuragam Yasapalitha Nanayakkara 1978
21 Engalil Oruvan A Man among us S.V.Chandran 1979

Films released in 1980s

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No Film title Meaning of title Film Director Date released
22 Rathathin Rathamae Beloved blood relatives Joe Dev Anand 1980
23 Aval Oru Jeevanathi She is a living river J.B.Robert, Joe Michael 1980
24 Nadu Potra Vaalka Live a great life so that the country will celebrate you Yasapalitha Nanayakkara 1979
25 Nenjukku Neethi Just to the heart T.Sundukuli Somasegaran 1980
26 Pathai Maariya Paruvangal Ages when paths changed NA 1982

Films released in 1990s—present

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No Film title Meaning of title Film Director Date released
27 Sharmilavin Ithaya Ragam Sharmila’s Melody of the Heart Peradeniya Junaideen, Sunil Soma Peiris 1993
28 Mann Earth Pudhiyavan 24 November 2006
29 Orae Naalil In a single day Yusuf Rahim released 2007
30 Operation Ellalan Symbol of Supreme Sacrifice Thamilan 2010
31 Ennul Enna Matramo What change do I have within me? Director: S.Kavimaran 14 June 2013
32 School Gang - Kalluri Padaiyani Musical Instrument Director: K.Kiruthigan 16 June 2015
33 Senthanal Red Flame Director: Sutharshan Kanagarajah April 2016
34 Akoran Very angry person Director: Dinesh Raveendran 10 feb 2017
35 Komaali Kings[3] Kings Of Comedians Director: King Ratnam 23 February 2018
36 Oru Kuyilum 2 Koattankalum 1 Koel, 2 batons Director: NS thanaa 26 June 2018
37 Bodhai Addictive Director: Kirushanth Jeyakumar 26 June 2019
38 Parthiba Parthiba Director: R.P.Abarnasuthan 21 November 2019
39 Theevinai Achcham scared Director: Dinesh Raveendran 08 feb 2020
40 Puththi Ketta Manitharellam All dumb people Director: Raj Sivaraj 24 December 2021
41 Munnel Soil Director: Visakesa Chandrasekaram 28 January 2023
42 Vellinattukkaasu Foreign money Director: Sasikaran Yo 26 March 2023
43 Soppana Sundhari Director: Mathavan Maheswaran 26 August 2023

Films yet to be released

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No Film title Meaning of title Film Director / Music Director Date released
35 Kaadhal Kaditham Love Letter Mukesh Yet to be released
36 Rajathanthiri King Maker Director: Sanathana Sarma Yet to be released
38 Sooriya Sooriyan Dr.p.suren Yet to be released
39 Maalai Neram Evening Director: Vithya Sharma Yet to be released
40 Yaaldevi The train Director: S.K.Logakanthan Yet to be released
42 YARL Musical Instrument Director: MS Anand Yet to be released
46 Poiyaa Vilakku The Lamp of Truth Director: Thanesh Gopal Yet to be released

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Sri Lankan Tamil Cinema and the Search for a Distinct Identity 4 December 2013 by D.B.S. Jeyaraj (originally published in the Indian newsmagazine Frontline on 13–26 February 1999, Vol. 16–No. 04, as part of the Symposium on Sri Lanka’s Cultural Experience)
  2. ^ "ஈழத்துத் தமிழ்த் திரைப்படங்களின் பட்டியல்". thaayagakkalaignarkal.blogspot.com. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  3. ^ 'Komaali Kings': 40-year revival of Sri Lankan Tamil cinema?
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